Method of and apparatus for making ice cubes



Nov. 30, 1965 J. H. BREEDING 3,220,295

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING ICE CUBES Filed April 50. 1964 FlG.l

FIG-2.3

INVENTOR. JAMES H. BREEDING United States Patent 3,220,205 METHOD OF ANDAPPARATUS FOR MAKING ICE CUBES James H. Breeding 392 Sherbourne,Inkster, Mich. Filed Apr. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 363,720 8 Claims. (Cl.6273) This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for makingice, particularly ice cubes, and is an improvement over my earlierPatent No. 2,995,017 issued August 8, 1961. While the term ice cubeswill be used herein, it is to be understood that this includes iceformed in other shapes, such as cylindrical, triangular or the like, andcubed is used merely as a generic description of the final product.

A general object is the provision of a method of making ice wherein theice is cut into cubes and deposited in a storage receptacle wherein theice is frozen on a vertical surface and the excess water falling fromthe freezing surface is carried away without contact with the ice cubes,and an apparatus or machine for practicing said method.

A further object is the provision of a method of making ice includingapplying water to an upright evaporator plate to freeze a slab of icethereon, cutting the slab of ice almost through while on the plate toform cubes joined at their marginal edges, and then defrosting the platepermitting the ice to drop into a receptacle below the plate. As the icedrops into the receptacle it breaks into the cubes.

Another object is the provision of an ice-making apparatus including oneor more upright evaporator plates adjacent the upper edge of which aredisposed water distributing means adapted to flow water in asubstantially uniform sheet over the plates with the plates havingtapered lower edges along which unfrozen water flows to be caught in atrough or the like for recirculation, and electrical resistance wiregrid means shiftable toward the plate to cut the ice formed thereon intocubes, with defrosting means for harvesting the ice and allowing it todrop into a suitable receptacle.

Provision of an upright evaporator plate according to the disclosure ofmy patent above referred to results in a material saving of space whileproviding a machine of high ice-making capacity. The instant applicationdiscloses improvements in an ice-making method and apparatus for makingice which permit ice in cubes or other shapes to be readilymanufactured.

Other objects, advantages and meritorious features will more fullyappear from the following specification, claims and accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an ice-making machine embodying myinvention with a panel of the housing removed to show the ice-makingmechanism;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a grid of resistance wires for cutting theice into cubes; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic wiring diagram of the control circuit for theapparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the machine as including anenclosed housing having a lower compartment or receptacle 12 for storingice provided with a suitable access door 14, and two upper compartments16 and 18, the former containing the evaporator assembly 20 describedherebelow and the latter housing the motors, compressor and controls.

The evaporator assembly 20 in general comprises one or more spacedvertical evaporator plates 22 tapered at their upper ends as at 24 andat their lower ends as at 26. Beneath the plates 22 there extends awater collecting means in the form of a trough 28 which communicateswith a sump (not shown). A water distributing conduit "ice 30 isprovided at the upper edge of each plate 22 to direct water onto thetapered surface 24 to flow over the plate 22 and be frozen thereon.Surfaces 24 and 26 are nonfreezing surfaces. Openings in conduit 30distribute water uniformly over plate 22 so that a slab of ice is formedthereon of substantially uniform thickness.

Pivotally supported adjacent the upper edge of each freezer plate 22 isan electric grid assembly 32, a side elevation of which is shown in FIG.2. The assembly in general includes a peripheral rigid frame 34 havingtwo upstanding ears 36 through which a bearing rod 38 extends having itsopposite ends journaled for rotation in a frame member 40 of themachine. The grid has vertical and horizontal electrically conductiveresistance wires 42 and 44 respectively which are heated by the passageof current to melt the ice as hereinafter described.

Rod means 46 are coupled to the lower end of each frame 34 and projectinwardly to a guide member 48 having inclined slots or grooves 50therein within which the rods are guidably shifted. A solenoid 52 sitsatop member 48 and has a generally T-shaped plunger extension 54underlying the rods 46. Energization of the solenoid 52 raises themember 54, urging the inner ends of rods 46 upwardly to shift the grids32 toward their respective plates 22.

Shown in FIG. 1 are water pipes 56 provided with openings arranged todirect defrosting water along the inwardly facing surfaces of theevaporator plates 22, causing the ice to drop from the plates into thereceptacle 12. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatdefrosting may be accomplished in other ways, as by providing electricheating coils contacting the surfaces of the plates 22. By usingordinary tap water, the defrosting water may be allowed to drain intothe trough with the water to be recirculated. As the defrosting water iscooled as it performs its defrosting function, its use as recirculatedwater to be frozen results in a higher thermal efficiency for themachine.

FIG. 1 also shows a second evaporator assembly 20' disposed on top ofand in register with the assembly 20, and identical in structurethereto. These evaporator assemblies may be stacked one on top of theother to provide a material saving in floor or ground space for a highcapacity ice-making plant. In order to avoid damage to the lowerassembly 20 'due to harvested ice falling from the upper assembly 20',deflector plates 60 are provided at the upper edge of the grid assembly32. The plates 60 may be secured as by bolts or the like to the upperhorizontal member of the frame 40 (see FIG. 2) which houses the grid.

FIG. 3 shows the control circuit for the machine of FIGS. 1 and 2, andincludes an off-on switch 62 and a selector switch 64 which iscontrolled by a thermostat 66 mounted in a convenient location apredetermined distance from plate 22 to sense the thickness of ice onthe plate. There are also three electric motors shown in FIG. 3, acondenser fan motor 68, a compressor motor 70, and a sump pump motor 72.Switch LS1 is a normally closed limit switch positioned to be contactedby a part of the grid assembly 32 when the grid wires 44 and 46 have cutthrough the slab of ice the desired distance. SR is a stepping relayhaving sets of contacts SR-l and SR-2 which control the flow of currentto the grid wires indicated as a resistance R in FIG. 3, solenoid 52which shifts the grids 32, and a second solenoid 74 which operates avalve (not shown) controlling flow of tap water to pipes 56 fordefrosting.

With switch 62 closed, fan motor 68 runs continuously while thermostat66 will alternately energize line 76 or 78. During the freezing part ofthe cycle, switch 64 contacts lead 76, and compressor motor 70 runs, asdoes sump motor 72 to recirculate freezing water to conduits 30. Whenvthermostat 66 senses a determined thickness of ice, switch 64 is shiftedto contact lead 78, through normally closed LS1 to stepping relay SR.Initial energization of SR closes contacts SR-l but leaves SR-Z open, soresistance grid R and solenoid 52 are energized, moving thecurrent-carrying grid wires 42 and 44 against the ice to cut it intocubes or the like. Momentary opening of LS1 as the grid reaches itsdesired penetration of the ice slab shifts SR to its second positionopening SR-1 to de-energize R and solenoid 52 which, being of the springreturn type, shifts grid assemblies 32 to their normal position. At thissecond position, SR-2 are closed, energizing solenoid 74 to admitdefrosting water to pipes 56. Upon retraction of the grids away from theplates 22, LS-l will again close, shifting SR to its third position, atwhich SR-l remain open and SR-2 remain closed. Subsequent opening of thecontact between 64 and 78 will shift SR to its fourth position, ready tobe shifted to its first or initial position above described by thereclosure of 64-78 connection.

The above description shows the operation of the machine to make ice incubes or other desired uniform shapes. When the ice is formed on theplates 22, the grid wires 42 and 44 are shifted toward the plate untilthey cut the slab of ice almost entirely through, at which point thewires are retracted and defrosting is begun. Defrost causes the ice tofall into receptacle 12 and as the ice falls it breaks into separatecubes. In the event the ice does not all break up into separate cubes,it is an easy matter for the customer to break it prior to use.

What I claim is:

1. An ice-making apparatus comprising: a closed housing havingat thelower end thereof an ice-receiving and storage receptacle open at thetop; a refrigeration system in the housing including an uprightevaporator plate disposed above said receptacle upon which water isfrozen and thereafter deposited in the receptacle; a water cat-ch troughdisposed under the lower edge of said evaporator plate to catch waterfalling therefrom; a water recirculating means including a sump inwater-receiving relation with said trough and a pump communicating withthe sump and water discharge means coupled to the pump outlet andpositioned to direct water along the upper edge of said plate to flowover the plate and form slabs of ice thereon; ice cutting meanscomprising a grid of resistance wires supported normally spaced from theevaporator plate and shiftable theretoward to out said slab of ice intopieces; and means for shifting said grid toward and away from saidplate.

2. In an ice-making apparatus: a refrigeration system including asubstantially vertically disposed evaporator plate having a non-freezingtapering surface along the lower edge thereof; a water-receiving troughbelow the margin of the lower edge of said plate for catching waterdropping therefrom; an ice receptacle under the plate below the troughfor receiving ice dropping from said plate; a grid of electricalresistance wires supported normally spaced laterally from said plate topermit the freezing of a slab of ice on the plate spaced from the gridand shiftable toward the plate into contact with said slab of ice to cutthe ice into pieces; and means for shifting said grid toward and awayfrom the plate.

3. In an ice-making apparatus: a refrigeration system including anupright evaporator plate having tapering portions at the upper and loweredges thereof respectively; means for directing water onto said taperedupper end of the plate; a trough underlying said tapered lower end ofthe plate to catch water falling therefrom; a recirculating water systemincluding a sump communicating with said trough and a sump pump coupledto said means for directing water onto the plate; an ice receptaclepositioned below said plate for receiving ice falling therefrom;defrosting means coupled with said refrigeration system and associatedwith said plate to harvest ice frozen thereon; a grid of electricresistance wires supported for movement toward and away from said plateto out said ice into pieces while on the plate; and means for shiftingsaid grid toward and away from said plate.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 characterized in that saiddefrosting system includes water dispensing means positioned to directwarm water onto the opposite side of the plate from that upon which. theice is formed.

5. The invention as defined in claim 3 characterized in that said gridis pivotally supported adjacent its upper marginal edge for pivotalmovement toward and away from said plate.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 characterized in that the lowerend of said grid is coupled to the plunger of an electric solenoid forshifting the grid upon actuation of said solenoid.

7. That method of making cubed ice comprising: circulating water over asurface of a vertically disposed evaporator plate of a refrigerationsystem to form a slab of ice thereon; interrupting the supply of waterto said plate; cutting partially through the slab of ice while on saidplate with electric resistance wires to form cubes of ice joined by thinice portions at their marginal edges; and thence defrosting saidevaporator plate and permitting the ice to fall therefrom and break intocubes in an ice receptacle belowthe plate.

8. The method as defined in claim 7 including catching water fallingfrom the lower edge of the evaporator plate at a point above said icereceptacle and recirculating said water back onto the upper edge of theplate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,682,155 6/1954Ayres et a1.

2,746,262 5/ 1956 Gallo.

3,003,335 10/1961 Kattis 62352 X 3,019,612 2/1962 Jueger 62347 X3,074,252 1/1963 Tippmann et al 62347 ROBERT A. OLEARY, PrimaryExaminer.

7. THAT METHOD OF MAKING CUBED ICE COMPRISING: CIRCULATING WATER OVER ASURFACE OF A VERTICALLY DISPOSED EVAPORATOR PLATE OF A REFRIGERATIONSYSTEM TO FORM A SLAB OF ICE THEREON; INTERRUPTING THE SUPPLY OF WATERTO SAID PLATE; CUTTING PARTIALLY THROUGH THE SLAB OF ICE WHILE ON SAIDPLATE WITH ELECTRIC RESISTANCE WIRES TO FORM CUBES OF ICE JOINED BY THINICE PORTIONS AT THEIR MARGINAL EDGES; AND THENCE DEFROSTING SAIDEVAPORATOR PLATE AND PERMITTING THE ICE TO FALL THEREFROM AND BREAK INTOCUBES IN AN ICE RECEPTACLE BELOW THE PLATE.